New chapter for this Lucky part of town

TRUE to its name, the Lucky Hotel has managed to operate in Newcastle since the 1800s, which is a mighty accomplishment for any business. After undergoing a massive refurbishment in 2014 by the McCloy Group, new life has been breathed once again into the old girl. A rustic front bar with exposed brick and thick wooden beams, an elegant champagne room with rich ruby velvet and an awesome internal courtyard with greenery and cathedral ceilings provides a mix of bar and dining areas for all ages.

The food focus is on the good old American barbecue. It’s meaty, it’s smoky and it’s hearty – just order and pay at the counter. You could share deep-fried pickles, popcorn chicken, jalapeno cornbread or Cajun fried shrimp to get things started. Try a mouth-watering smoked beef brisket burger that’s juicy and sweet with charred onions and cheese or go the whole hog and order up a house-smoked meat fest: a big pig platter features pork ribs, pulled pork and pork sausages; or the pit master platter comes with the addition of beef short ribs and Cajun chicken wings. And it all comes with fries, slaw and a pickle. White meat fans can try Mama’s chicken-fried chicken or the fish of the day. There are also robust salads, dawgs and that old Southern staple, gumbo.

If you have any room left at the end, classic waffles and ice-cream or a sundae special should push you to bursting point. The food here is straightforward and carnivorous – this is a pub in her bones, after all. Speaking of which, there’s a great tap beer selection, with a pleasing wine offering too.